No disruptions at PN-G on Columbine anniversary
Published 6:10 pm Thursday, April 20, 2017
PORT NECHES — It was business as usual one day after a Port Neches-Groves High School student was arrested for a terroristic threat.
Mike Gonzales, assistant superintendent at PN-G Independent School District, said attendance appeared to be normal and that there was an increased police presence on Thursday.
“We are always concerned when people make accusations and have to go along with the normal routine. We understand this is important to parents, we understand parents’’ concerns about it but we have to continue educating the kids,” Gonzales said.
The district received some scrutiny from some of the public for not immediately informing them of the alleged threat made by Triston Brantley Miller, 17. There is a process that must be followed in such situations.
“When people say, or make comments that make it seem as if we are not concerned, we are always concerned,” he said.
School district officials are the ones who alerted law enforcement of the alleged threats.
“We are continuing to do what we do the best we can do,” he said.
Keeping the school going as normal as possible under the circumstances and not disrupting the campus or the educational process is vital.
Miller, who is said to be an honor roll student, was arrested Wednesday on a warrant for terroristic threat after witnesses say they heard him talking about a Columbine type school shooting.
Bond is set at $100,000, according to personnel at the Jefferson County Correctional Facility.
According to the probable cause affidavit for Miller’s arrest, the teen reportedly told other students about shooting up the high school on the April 20 anniversary of the Columbine School shooting and tried to recruit two students to assist. In addition, he told another student he wanted to buy a gun about a month prior.
Detectives interviewed several witnesses and the suspect and submitted a probable cause affidavit to the Jefferson County District attorney’s Office for the offense of terroristic threat, which is a third degree felony.